Geology is the study of the Earth, including its composition, structure, physical properties, history and processes that shape it. The document provides examples to illustrate key concepts in geology, such as how diamonds form deep in the Earth's crust under high pressure and heat before being transported to the surface, and how petroleum is formed from organic matter that is buried and heated over time. The study of geology integrates different aspects of the Earth system and aims to understand formation processes both at and below the Earth's surface.
Geology is the study of the Earth, including its composition, structure, physical properties, history and processes that shape it. The document provides examples to illustrate key concepts in geology, such as how diamonds form deep in the Earth's crust under high pressure and heat before being transported to the surface, and how petroleum is formed from organic matter that is buried and heated over time. The study of geology integrates different aspects of the Earth system and aims to understand formation processes both at and below the Earth's surface.
Geology is the study of the Earth, including its composition, structure, physical properties, history and processes that shape it. The document provides examples to illustrate key concepts in geology, such as how diamonds form deep in the Earth's crust under high pressure and heat before being transported to the surface, and how petroleum is formed from organic matter that is buried and heated over time. The study of geology integrates different aspects of the Earth system and aims to understand formation processes both at and below the Earth's surface.
Geology is the study of the Earth, including its composition, structure, physical properties, history and processes that shape it. The document provides examples to illustrate key concepts in geology, such as how diamonds form deep in the Earth's crust under high pressure and heat before being transported to the surface, and how petroleum is formed from organic matter that is buried and heated over time. The study of geology integrates different aspects of the Earth system and aims to understand formation processes both at and below the Earth's surface.
Graphy-: gr. graphus = to write Logy-: gr. logos = to understand
UNDERSTAND THE EARTH
FUNDAMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE • Geology • Botany • Zoology • Physics • Chemistry • Astronomy • Geography • Hydrology • Engineering (Petroleum) Why geology? • Geology will make us understand the history of the earth • Geology explains processes beneath the Earth surface • Geology makes us understand the processes on the surface of the Earth • Geology reveals the interdependence of processes in the water (hydrosphere), the air (atmosphere) and the rocks (lithosphere) and the effects on the biosphere • Geology answers to questions asking WHY How we can learn this? • Geology combines/connects different ‘areas’ of the Earth: molten rock rises in the interior of the Earth and erupts to form volcanoes, transports diamonds to the surface etc. • Different fragments (continental blocks or plates) on the surface of the Earth collide with each other and provoke mountains, earthquakes and tsunamis or massive ore deposits • The differentiation of the Earth in different rocks causes the abundance of elements either very abundant (Silica (Si) in quartz, K in feldspar) or extremely rare (diamonds, gold, platinum) Diamonds An example: Formation of diamond-bearing rocks • Specific conditions to form diamonds (high pressure and temperature) • Then: diamonds crystallise inside of a magma, like a raisin in a mass of dough/deig) very deep in the Earth 120-200 km • The magma has to move upwards helped by special temperature and pressure conditions controlled by a specific geological situation • The plastic mass (dough) moves through the Earth to reach the surface relatively quickly (days) • The magma reaches the surface of the Earth as lava during a volcanic eruption • Diamonds are now part of a rock (kimberlite) • It rains and this destroys (erodes) the volcanic rock to release rock fragments and … diamonds • The rock debris derives in a river system where the water differentiates the rock fragments by weight • Diamonds getting deposited in a specific part of the river This is only possible beneath a thick and old continental block. • Diamonds form and preserved in high-pressure environment, > 120 km in thick, cool, and old (Archaean) continental lithosphere (here called cratons) Example in South Africa Second example: Formation of petroleum • We need organic matter: a lot and quickly covered by sand (to bury): then we have our source • We need an area with a lot of sand available • More sand and sand, to cover the organic matter, and heat it by pressure (caused by weight of the overlying sand/rocks) • This forms a rock containing organic matter (a dark rock and it might be later coal and often smells) under specific temperature and pressure conditions • Specific geological conditions provokes organic matter to flow, if the matter is plastic or a fluid • Elsewhere, on their way, the fluids will fill pores in a rock • It is necessary to have a rock layer which stops the flow so that the oil can accumulate: a seal, which is a rock without porosity and no permeability • The temperature and pressure shall not be too high (we will see) • The necessary change of rock types can be related to many geological characteristics and only geologists can trace these fluids and understand their formation and origin • And find out where is more! TO CLASSIFY ROCKS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLE (AND NEVER FORGET): • rock • mineral • element • EXAMPLE: – rock: granite – mineral: quartz (SiO2) – element: silica (SI) and oxygen (O)